Jack's Wife Freda — Restaurant in New York

Jack's Wife Freda is the brilliant lovechild of the grandson of two immigrants, Jack and Freda, who met in Johannesburg in 1930. The first location opened in 2011 and they have 5 locations in NYC now!

This weekend was our third visit to the very busy Brooklyn location and, per usual, it lived up to the hype!! This diverse menu offers an eclectic selection of mastered dishes inspired by South Africa, Israel and NYC, complimented by imaginative cocktails.

We began with the Sunshine on Carmine and Margarita Rocks cocktails and the Fried Halloumi as an appetizer. I have indulged in fried Halloumi before, but JFW takes it up several notches! The brilliant combination of mildly hot spice, sweet grapes and drizzle of EVOO are the perfect partner to this cheese turning what could lean heavy to a light and lovely explosion of flavor! It was so delectable it was hard not to request a second order!!!

For our entrees we selected the Salmon a la Plancha and Peri Peri Chicken. The Salmon was expertly prepared, brushed with a slightly sweet, nutty and tangy sesame soy glaze, slivers of radish, toasted sesame seeds and served over the most delicious tender sauteed kale!! A perfect plate for these hot summer days.. substantially satisfying but not too imposing

The Peri Peri Chicken was incredible! A spatchcock chicken boasting a citrusy/spicy flavor, roasted to perfection but still tender and juicy! Served with a bright diced cucumber salad to offset the heat from the sliced jalapenos that top this beautiful chicken, it was a true culinary delight!!!

Last, we decided to give Noam’s Malva Pudding a try after our attendant provided a spot-on flavor description. This very delicate, fluffy and light South African sponge cake is soaked in a sweet caramel syrup and served with a generous amount of fresh whipped cream. The cake was tender and vanilla forward and the whipped cream was not overly sweet, so it complimented the cake without overpowering the star of this incredible treat!

I am always stoked when a restaurant maintains what made it outstanding for the long haul. JFW is one of those places..consistently delicious!! If you have not yet had the pleasure..do not wait another second, this NYC gem is well worth the visit!! I suggest a reservation, though walk-ins are welcome, as this place...

Well everyone, feast your eyes on my $29(!!!) meal of 4 measly pieces of “chicken skewer,” priced at a startling $12(!!!). I was so glad the skewer was in four separate pieces, so I could really taste what $3/bite is like. The answer? Dry, chewy, and overcooked. Like, they slapped it on the grill at 1pm and then again at 5:30pm and then once more at 7:30pm, just for fun.

Oh! And lest we forget this $17 “salad” - a pile of shredded kale, pathetically lining the inside of this half-filled bowl. What’s underneath, you ask? Oh, just the equivalent of 3 cherry tomatoes, a few onion slices, and a 1/4 of a cucumber.

Let’s make matters worse, shall we? I placed a pickup order, arrived at the restaurant, and greeted the host who said absolutely nothing to me. She went to the back to grab my to-go bag, shoved it in my hand, and turned right back around without a word. What a welcoming, worthwhile establishment!

To be clear, I have eaten at the original SoHo location many times when it first opened many years ago and have visited the West Village location multiple times since. I’ve always known JWF to be reliable, tasty, and enjoyable. They need to take a hard look in the mirror at themselves because this is plain shameful, disappointing, and offensive. And in case it wasn’t clear, an ABSOLUTE ripoff. Take your money elsewhere. I...

I haven't visited the other locations for this franchise but this one particularly in Williamsburg has an attractive space. Very spacious, bright relaxing atmosphere. You can easily go here for a solo, romantic date or business lunch. It can cater to all moods perfectly. The staff was also attentive and helpful with ideas.

We tried out their breakfast menu. At the suggestion of our waiter, my husband went with the vegetable curry and he enjoyed it. The curry sauce indeed was delicious and the chicken skewer was a good compliment. After much debate i decided to go with the shakshuka and it was bland and passable. The green sauce did nothing to the dish. the eggs did not taste fresh. I actually used some of the curry sauce from my husband dish to enhance the flavor of mine and help me finish it . Also we ordered a side of duck bacon and that was delicious.

What saved me were the drinks. I started out with the cantaloupe mimosa which was different and delish. It arrived in a short cocktail glass, wish it came in a bigger glass. Their happy hour which starts at 3pm on a weekday opened up while we were dining. I went with the mezcal margarita and it was amazing for just $10. It honestly made me wish I lived nearby, i would be here at least once a week...